Tile for joist and tile construction for floors and the like



Oct. "15, 1935. H. F, FREASE 2,017,241

TILE FOR JOIST AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE Original Filed May 25, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY HEP/ease i ATTORNEYS TILE FOR JOIST AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE Wd ,109k

/az'a ma, /115 10i/1057 (loza Original Filed May 23, 1931 MAM H. F. FRE-:ASE 2,017,241

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lll Wig. 6

MAMVMMMWWWW y INVENTOR HKP/*ease ATTORN EYS @ci l5, 1935. H. F. FREASE 2,017,241

TILE FOR JOIST AND TILE CONSTRCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE Original Filed May 25, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 W) mi f? W1 50'?. fff 16a C; T1?) 105 .fz/f2] A l l0 l jfl; 102f `/02'a I" 105m, "ma I J5] 2,

A l V j wa INVENTOR BY Hi'i'reae TILE FOR JOIST AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE original Filed May 23, 195.1 5 sheetsheet 4 INVENTOR l BY bfi'ease MWORNEYS Oct.'15, 1935. H. F. FREASE 2,017,241

TILE FOR JOIST AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE original Filed May 23, 1951 5'sheets shee1; 5

INVENTOR gw Cy/ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 15, 1935 PATENT OFFICE TILE FOR JOIST AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE Hurxthal F. Frease, Canton, Ohio Original application May 23, 1931, Serial No.

539,545. Divided and this application December 12, 1932, Serial No. 646,868

6 Claims.

My invention relates to tile or blocks for structures including longitudinally extending laterally spaced load Sustaining members supported at their ends, and tile or block surface forming members extending between the load sustaining members for forming spaced surfaces extending across the outer sides of the load sustaining members.

ASuch structures may include normally verti- 10 cally extending Walls, normally sloping roofs, or

normally horizontal floors.

More particularly the present invention relates to tile or blocks for iire and heat resisting trans- Verse load sustaining floors including preferably steel joists having upper and lower chord members and the tile or block surface forming members supported by the joists and forming an upper floor surface and a lower ceiling surface extending respectively above and below the upper and lower chord members of the joists.

The present invention is a division of subject matter set forth in my application for United States Letters Patent for J oist and tile construction for oors and the like, filed May 23, 1931,

erial No. 539,545, Patent No. 1,891,086.

In the usual steel joistfloor construction, each joist includes transversely spaced longitudinally extending upper and lower chord members, means maintaining the chord members in proper load sustaining transversely spaced position, and end supports which rest upon spaced bearings such as beams.

The joists are laterally spaced from each other and extend longitudinally between the bearings,

; and metal lath or sheet metal decking extends across and is supported on the upper chords of the joists and is covered usually by a layer of concrete or other material for forming the upper iioor surface, and in the case of ofiice buildings,

10 public buildings, residences, or the like, metal lath is usually suspended below the lower chords of thD joists, and the lower metal lath is covered with coatings of plaster or the like for forming the lower ceiling surfaces.

Such usual steel joist floor construction, whether or not including a ceiling as aforesaid, does not satisfy the requirements of re and heat resisting, or so-called fire-proof, construction, because load sustaining members of the joists,

:o and the inner surfaces of the lath are not provided with heat and fire resisting coverings such as concrete, tile, or the like, and may be subject to the direct action of heat or ames.

From the standpoint of erection however, joist 55, oor construction is very desirable, because the joists for each floor may be placed in position on the bearing beams of the steel or other main frame of the building as it is erected, and temporary ilooring may be laid over the joists for use during the further erection of the building, and 5; for preventing workmen from falling.

When fire-proof construction is required however, it has heretofore been necessary to use some form of solid reinforced concrete floor, arch tile floor, tile or pan and reinforced concrete 10. beam door, or special or plural unit tile floor.

All of these usual types of lire-proof iioors involve the use of concrete, grout, or mortar, and most of such floors require the use of separate forms or centering upon which the concrete is 15, poured to make solid oors, or upon which concrete is combined with tile or pans, to make tile and concrete, or pan and concrete floors, or upon which tile is laid up with mortar by masons to make tile arch floors. 20

Some forms of the special or plural unit tile floor eliminate centering by the use of tile having an unusual or special transverse cross section, or by the use of a plurality of sets of tile units, the unit of each set having a transverse cross section, 25 different from the other set units. Such special tile or sets of special tile are very objectionable from the standpoint of the tile manufacturer, because special dies are required for forming the tile, and because it is very diicult to maintain 30 an adequate supply of the special units to meet the requirements of builders in various parts of the country.

From the standpoint of erection the usual workmen available for building purposes have 35 diiiiculty in properly positioning and arranging the several different shapes or units of tile in plural unit construction.

Moreover, aside from the standpoint of fireprooiing, all joist floor constructions commercially available prior to the present invention, have required the combination of more than two different or separate elements, other than concrete, grout, or mortar, to provide self-sustaining structures having spaced flat iioor and ceiling surfaces.

The objects of the present invention are in general to provide tile or blocks adapted to improve and reduce the cost of joist and tile construction, and specifically are as follows:

First, to provide tile or blocks for a self-sustaining structure includingspaced flat outer surfaces, and which includes, excepting concrete, grout, or other similar material when used, only two different sets of elements, namely a set of 55.

laterally spaced similar load sustaining elements, and a single set of similar tile or block surface forming elements, preferably refractory tile, the surface forming elements spanning between and being supported by the joists;

Second, to provide tile or blocks for a selfsustaining joist and tile structure which is adapted for meeting the most rigid fire-proofing requirements, and which may be constructed at a minimum cost;

Third, to provide tile or blocks for a joist and tile structure in which the joists support the tile, and in Which the tile have a rectangular crosssection, whereby the tile may be made in any usual building tile manufacturing plant Without requiring special dies;

Fourth, to provide tile or blocks for a fireproof joist and tile structure in which the use of concrete, grout, or similar material is optional;

Fifth, to provide tile or blocks for a self-sustaining joist and tile structure adapted for supporti-ng transverse loads, and in which all the elements including concrete, grout, or similar niaterial when used, cooperate with each other to attain the maximum efficiency of each separate element; that is to say the steel of the joistis subject to a maximum tension and a minimum compression loading, the tile is subject to a maximum compression and shear loading and a minimum tension loading, and the concrete, grout or similar material when used is subject to a maximum` compression and shear loading and a minimum tension loading, or if desired. the concrete may be subject' to no structural loading whatever.

Sixth, to provide tile or blocks for a joist and tile structure, in which the joist and tile elements after being properly installed, permanently position and interlock each other without additional means, and the complete structure when used as a floor being adapted to resist lateral twisting of the main frame of the building, as the result of Wind pressure andthe like;

Seventh, to provide tile orV blocks for a joist and tile structure particularly adapted for permitting the use ofY Vrectangular tile of relatively great length; and

Eighth, to provide improved tile or blocks particularly adapted for combination with improved joiststo` form the improved joist and tile structures.Y

The foregoing and other objects are attained by thek structures, parts, improvements, and combinations, which comprise the present invention, and? which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

In general terms the improved structures made by the use in part of the improved tile or blocks hereof may be described as including improved laterally spaced longitudinally extending load sustaining spanning members, and the improved surface forming members, tile or blocks hereof extending between the spanning members and forming spaced flat-surfaces extending across the outer sides of the rspanning members, each improved spanning member including one or more longitudinally extending upper chord members, one or more longitudinally extending lower chord members, and means maintaining the chord members in proper load sustaining position, each lower chord member being laterally as well as transversely spaced fromv one of the upper chord members, and the improved blocks preferably comprising refractoryV tile, each block preferably having a rectangular transverse cross-section and eX- tending between adjacent spanning members, and each block preferably having a notched seat formed in each of its lower end corners, whereby each end of each block is supported on one of the lower chord members of one of the spanning mema bers, and the lower portion of each end of each block may be, formed for extending beneath the chord member supporting the block and forming a concrete or grout retaining shelf, and when it is desired to eliminate the use of concrete, grout l0 or the like, the upper portion of each end of each block may be formed for extending over one or more ofthe upper chord members, and the ends of. the block may be positively engaged by concrete or grout when the same is used to embed 15 the spanning members, and preferably the ends of the blocks abut against sides of the load sustaining members for interlocking with the load sustaining members, whether or not concrete or other embedding material is used. 20

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in'V the accompanying drawings forming: part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a topplan viewillustrating one embodimentof the improved joist and tile floor 25 structure, including one form of' improved lever arch joist, andi onel form of the improved end notched tile hereof, portions of the floor being illustrated nished, and other portions being illustrated during the course of construction; 30.

Fig. 2, a sectional vievvA thereof looking at the side of one of the joists;

Fig. 3, atop plan-view of another form of improved lever arch joist particularly adapted for the improved joist and tileoor structure;

Fig. 4, a side elevation thereof;

Y Fig. 5, a top plan View of a form of improved bar joist particularly adapted for the improved joist. and tile floor structure;

Fig. 6, a side elevation thereof; 40

Fig. '7, a top plan View of another form of improved bar joist for use in theimproved joist and tile floor structure;

Fig. 8, aside elevation thereof;

Fig. 9, an enlarged fragmentary transverse sect5` the joist of Figs. '7 and 8 with tile similar to the 65 tile of Figs. 1, 2, and 9;

Fig. 13, a similar view illustrating. another embodiment of theV improved joist and tile structure including the joist of Figs. 3 and 4, and a second embodiment of the improved tile, and in which no concrete is used, and the method of erection being indicated;

Fig. 14, a similar view illustrating another einbodiment of the improved joist and tile floor structure including the joist of Figs. 3 and 4, and a third embodiment of the improved tile, together with concrete embedding the joist and tile, the tile beingv formed so as to eliminate the necessity of separate forms or centering for receiving the concrete when poured;

Fig. 15, a fragmentary isometric perspective View of the fioorstructure of Fig. l; and

Fig. 16, an isometric perspective View of one of the improved tile.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

One embodiment of the improved joist and tile floor structure is indicated generally at F-I in Figs. l, 2, and 9. The floor structure F--I includes a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending improved lload sustaining spanning members each indicated generally by J-I, and a plurality of improved surface forming tile or blocks each indicated generally by T--I, the blocks T-I extending between and bearing on adjacent spanning members J-I, and forming a spaced fiat upper floor surface S-f and a spaced flat lower ceiling surface S--c extending respectively above and below the spanning members J--I.

Each improved spanning member J--I is preferably an improved embodiment of the lever arch joists set forth in my prior United States Letters Patent No. 1,686,910,and in my prior applications for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 129,424 Patent No- 1,812,690, and Serial No. 280,484, Patent No. 1,843,318.

For attaining the particular objects of the present invention, each of the improved spanning members or lever arch joists indicated generally by J--I, includes triangular arch struts 2a and 2b which may be formed by diagonally severing a rectangular plate.

The struts 2a and 2b are arranged with their apexes 3a and 3b preferably abutting each other, as at 4.

A pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending upper chord members or bars 5 and 5' are secured along the upper edges 6a. and 6b of the struts 2a and 2b, as by arc welds l; and the bars 5 and 5 respectively are preferably provided with terminals 5a and 5b, and 5a and 5b extending beyond the ends of the arch struts 2a and 2b.

Heel struts 8a and 8a are secured, as by arc welds l, on opposite sides of the base Sa of the arch strut 2a; and heel struts 8b and 8b are secured, as by arc welds 1, on opposite sides of the base 9b of the arch strut 2b.

Each heel strut, as illustrated, is preferably a length of standard angle, and the apex of each angle heel strut extends transversely of its joist, and one leg of each angle heel strut abuts the side face of the arch strut to which it is Secured,

and the other leg of each angle heel strut extends laterally outwardly from the side of the arch strut to which it is secured, the laterally extending legs of the angle heel struts being preferably located at the outer edges of the bases 9a and 9b of the arch struts 2a and 2b respectively.

Laterally extending tie rod spacing and anchor members |00, and IGZ) are secured respectively as by arc welds 'l Yon the outer faces of the laterally extending legs of the angle heel struts Ba and 8a', and 8b and 8b', at the lower ends thereof.

Each laterally extending tie rod spacing and anchor member is secured at its central portion to its pair of angle heel struts, and extends laterally from each side of the arch strut to which its angle heel struts are secured.

The outer end of each tie rod spacing and anchor member has formed therein a tie rod receiving aperture II.

Laterally spaced longitudinally extending tie rods I2 and I2 are each provided with threaded outer ends I3 each of which extends through one of the apertures l I, and a nut I 4 is screwed upon each threaded tie rod end I3, and the nuts I4 react against the outer faces of the tie rod spacing and anchor members Ilial and Ib, and apply suitable tension loads onthe tie rods I2 and I2.

For resisting lateral displacement of the arch strut apexes 3a. and 3b, and for resisting abnormal reverse or vibration loading of the joist, a pair of longitudinally extending reinforcing angles I5 and I5' may be secured as by arc welds I to the apexes 3a and 3b of the struts 2a, and 2b, on opposite sides thereof, with one leg of each angle spaced below one of the chord members or bars 5 and 5' and extending laterally from the side faces of the arch struts to which particular reinforcing angle is secured.

For providing end supports for the arch joist J-I above the laterally spaced tie rods I2 and I2', laterally spaced angle end supports Ilia and 25a', and lh and IED', are secured as by arc welds l, on opposite sides and at the upper outer corners I'Ia and IIb of the struts 2a and 2b, respectively, and the angle end supports are transversely spaced above the tie rods I2 and I2', that is to say under the normal use of the arch joists J-I, the lever end supports are above the tie rods and the end supports extend longitudinally beyond the ends ofthe arch joists any desired distance coextensive with the terminals 5a and 5b, and 5a and 5b' of the chord bars 5 and 5', and the angle end supports and the chord bar terminals are preferably secured to each other as by arc welds Each arch joist JI is pendulously supported at its ends by resting the angle end supports i611 and Ifa', and Ib and 1Gb", respectively, on suitable bearings, which may be beams Illa. and IBD, respectively, of the main frame of a building indicated generally by I9.

For attaining the most efficient co-action between the improved joist load sustaining members J-I and the preferred refractory tile surface forming members T-I, each joist J-I includes tile clamping bars Zia and 20h Secured respectively as by arc welds 'l' on the outer faces of the laterally extending legs of the angle heel struts 8a and 8a', and 8b and 8b, above the tie rod spacing and anchor members Ia. and Ib, respectively.

The tile clampingbars 20a and 20h thus secured respectively on the outer ends of the bases 9a and 9b of the arch struts 2a and 2b, co-act with the tile T-I, in an improved manner which will be hereinafter described in detail.

In other words each of the improved joist load sustaining members J--I includes longitudinally extending upper chord members 5 and 5', longitudinally extending lower tie rod or chord mem bers I2 and I2-, arch means maintaining the chord members in proper load sustaining position, and end supports for penduously supporting the joists.

The lower chord members I2 and l2 are transversely spaced below and laterally spaced at opposite sides of the upper chord members 5 and 5', and certain of the objects of the present improvements are attained by utilizing the laterally spaced lower chord members as bearings for the lower ends of the tile T-I.

, The lower tie rod or chord members I2 and I2 may each in itself have a suitable cross-section for resisting deection when the tile T--I are being placed in position, it being understood that as hereinafter set forth in detail, after the tile T-I are placed in position the joists J-I co-act with the tile T -I under load so as to oppose transverse deiection. A

As illustrated, however, a plurality of lo-ngitudinally spaced closed triangular hanger frames 2| are applied around the upper chord members 5 and '5' and the lower tie rods |2 and l2', the upper chordmembers and the lower tie rod members being secured respectively as by welding at the apexes of the triangular hanger frame. 2| which may be conveniently formed of wire.

Each-of the preferred refractory tile surface forming members T-|, is preferably a hollow tile having a rectangular transverse'cross-section and including normally horizontal upper and lower rectangular walls Eef and 30o whose outer surfaces respectively form the floor surface S-f and the ceiling surface S-c. Outer normally vertical longitudinally extending rectangular side walls 39a and 3G23 extend between the longitudinal side edges of the walls 36) and 39C, and a normally vertical longitudinally extending rectangular reinforcing web wall 30d may extend between the upper and lower walls 36j and 30a, and when desired a normally horizontal longitudinally extending rectangular reinforcing web wall 30e may extend between the side walls Ba and 36h and intersect the vertical web wall 39d.

At each end of each tile, an upper end supporting portion 3|, including upper end portions of the side walls 30a and 36h, and of the vertical web wall 39d, together with the upper wall 301c and the horizontal web wall 33d, extends longitudinally beyond preferably vertically offset lower faces 32 including lower portions of the end faces of the side walls 30a and 3017, and of the vertical web wall 30d, and the end face of the bottom wall 30e.

The lower longitudinally extending faces 33 of each end supporting portion 3! are formed by the lower faces of the longitudinally extending upper end portions of the side walls 35a and 30h, and of the vertical web wall 30d, and are normally horizontal, and the normally horizontal faces 33 form with the normally vertical faces 32 a notched or rabbeted seat indicated generally by 34 in each lower end corner of each tile.

In other words the improved tile '1"-|, with the desired upper longitudinally extending end supporting portion 3|, at each end thereof, may be formed by notching out each lower end corner of an ordinary green rectangular building tile during the process of manufacture, by the use of hand notching wires, or machines, well known in the art.

As illustrated all the outer faces of the upper and lower walls 301 and 30C and the side Walls 33a and 30h of each tile, are smooth, and may be glazed; whereby in certain classes of construction no further floor or ceiling nish need be applied over the outer surfaces of the upper and lower walls Sf and 3Go, whereby a glazed tile floor and ceiling finish is obtained.

When desired it is obvious however that the outer surfaces of the upper, lower, and side walls of each tile may be longitudinally tongued and grooved in the well known manner for receiving finishing concrete, plaster, grout, or the like.

In order to obtain the maximum advantages of the present improvements, it is desirable that the overall length L of each tile be substantially longer than the corresponding dimension of tile used in other types of tile floor construction.

This overall length L may be 18 inches, 24 inches, 36 inches or even longer depending upon loading and dimensional requirements.

In any event the greatest eiciency is obtained when the overall length L is` greater than the lateral breadth B ofthe tile, and is also greater than the transverse depth D.

In erecting the floor F-I, the spanning joist members J-l are placed in position so that their end supports la and |611', and I6?) and |617', rest on the bearing beams 18a and |81), respectively, and the joists J-l are laterally spaced from each other so that the distance between the tie rod I2 of one joist and the tie rod I2' of the next adjacent joist is substantially equal to the length L between the opposite offset lower faces 32 of the lower end portions of the side walls 3Da and 30h, the web wall 3M, and the lower ceiling forming wall 30e of each tile T-l Temporary flooring may then be laid across the arch struts 2a and 2b of the joists, and the tile or blocks T-I may be laid directly from above so that each end supporting portion 3| rests on the adjacent tie rod |2 or |2' of the adjacent joist, the length L of the upper walls 38) and the upper end portions of the side walls 35a and 30h and the web wall 30d of each tile T-I is such that the extremities of the end adjacent tile carried by the tie rods I2 and l2' of any particular joist J-l are laterally spaced from each other and from the upper chord bars 5 and 5', a distance to permit concrete, grout, or other com.- pression resisting, self-setting plastic material C to be poured downwardly between the laterally spaced tile end portions and the upper chord bars 5 and 5' of the joist. A centering plank 40 may be supported or suspended in abutment with the outer faces of adjacent lower end portions of the lower walls 30e, for receiving the plastic material C when it ispoured, and until it is set.

As `best illustrated in Fig. 9, in the resulting floor structure F-|, the compression resisting concrete material C completely embeds each joist, and engages with the end portions of the tile walls.

It is also to be noted that the notched seats 34 of the tile interlock with the supporting tie rods |2 and I2' of the joists J-|.

In the floor F-I the side walls of adjacent tile abut against each other and clamping pressure is applied against the side abutting tile T-I, due to the weight of the floor itself, and any transverse loading thereof, acting through the longitudinally spaced clamping bars 28a and 2|Jb be-y tween which the-tile T-l are located.

It will also be noted that normal transverse loading of the floor F-l places the concrete C under compression between the laterally extending flanges of the angle heel struts of each joist From another standpoint, in the floor F-|, each tile or block extends between and bears on adjacent spanning joists J-I, and the outer faces of the walls 30f and 313e are transversely spaced from each other and have side edges abutting each other,

The outer faces of all the upper floor walls 30f of the adjacent tile T-l between any two adjacent joists are alined with each other, and similarly the outer faces of all the lower ceiling walls 30e of the adjacent tile between any two adjacent joists are alined with each other, and the transversely spaced alined outer faces of the walls 30f and 30e form with the outer faces of the concrete C the transversely spaced floor and ceiling surfaces S-f and S-e, each extending laterally and longitudinally with respect to the spanning joists J-l, and the transverse spacing between the upper chord members 5 and 5' and the lower chord members. |2 and i2 of the spanning joists is less than the transverse spacing of the surfaces S-f and S-c, and the transversely spaced upper and lower chord members 5 and 5 and |2 and i2 are located between the transversely spaced surfaces S-f and S-c, whereby the desired floor structure having the transversely spaced fiat licor and ceiling surfaces S-f and S-c is attained by the use of only a plurality of the joists J-|, a plurality ofthe unitary similar tile T-I, and the concrete C.

Asecond embodiment of the improved joist and tile floor structure is indicated generally at F-Z in Fig. 10, and includes a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending improved load sustaining spanning members each indicated generally by J--2, and a plurality of improved surface forming tile or block each indicated generally by T2 and extending between and bear-- ing on adjacent spanning members J-2 and forming a flat upper floor surface S---f and a flat lower ceiling surface S-2-c, the surfaces S-2-f and S-Z-c being transversely spaced from each other and extending respectively above and below the Spanning members J-2.

The spanning members J-Z constitute other embodiments of the lever arch joists, set forth in my aforesaid prior United States Letters Patent and applications, and are further improvements of the joists J-I, whereby the quantity of concrete required for making a llreproof floor is reduced and the structural coaction of the joists and tile is improved in the floor F-2.

One of the improved joists J-2, detached from the iioor structure F-2, is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and includes triangular arch struts |0211 and |021), and |0211' and |02b.

The struts |0211 and |021) are arranged with their apexes |0311 and |031) abutting each other as at |04; and the struts |0211 and |02b are arranged with their apexes |0311 and 1031) abutting each other as at |04', and the struts |021; and |021) are spaced laterally from the struts |02a' and |0219'.

An upper chord member'or bar |05 is secured along the upper edges |0611 and |061) of the struts |0211 and |021), as by arc welds |01; and laterally spaced from the bar |05, a chord member or bar |05' is secured along the upper edges |06a and |0617 of the struts |0261. and |021)', as by arc welds A channel heel strut |08a is interposed between the bases |0961 and |0911' of the laterally spaced arch struts |0211 and |0211', and secured thereto as by arc welds |01; and a channel heel strut |081) is interposed between the bases |091) and |0912' of the laterally spaced arch struts i021) and |0217 and secured thereto as by arch welds |01.

Laterally extending tie rod spacing and anchor members ||0a, and ||01) are secured respectively as by arc welds |01 on the outer faces of the channel struts |08a and |081) respectively at the lower ends thereof.

Each laterally extending tie rod spacing and anchor member is secured at its central portion to its channel heel strut and extends laterally from each side thereof and from the opposite sides of the arch struts spaced by the channel heel strut. y

The outer end of each tie rod spacing and anchor member has formed therein a tie rod receiving aperture Laterally spaced longitudinally extending tie rods I2 and ||2 are each provided with threaded outer ends |3 each of which extends through` one of the apertures and a nut l|4 is screwed upon'each threaded tie rod end I3 and the nuts ||4 react against the outer faces of the tie rod spacing and anchor members ||0a and H01), and apply suitable tension loads on the tie rods ||2 The lower tie rods or chord members ||2 and ||2 are transversely spaced below and laterally spaced at opposite sides of the upper laterally spaced chord members |05 and |05', and their respective arch struts. 10

For resisting' lateral displacement of the arch strut apexes, and for resisting abnormal reverse or vibration loading of the joists J-2 a longitudinally extending channel |'5 is preferably interposed between the strut apexes |0311. and |031), 15 and the strut apexes |0311.' and |03b and secured theretol as by arc welds |01.

For providing end supports f-or the arch joists J--2 above the laterally spaced tie rods ||2 and l2', a preferably channel end support |611. is in- 20 terposed between the upper outer corners ||1a and |1111 of the struts |0201 and |02a', and secured thereto as by arc welds |01; and similarly a channel end support |61) is interposed between the upper outer corners ||11) and ||11) of the 25 struts |021) and 1021) respectively, and secured thereto as by arc welds |01.

The end support ||6a extends longitudinally beyond the arch strut bases |0911 and |0911' and the channel end support H51) extends longitudl- 30 nally beyond the arch strut bases |001) and 1091).

Each joist J-Z preferably further includes tile clamping bars |2011, and |201) secured respectively by arc welds |01 on the outer faces of the channel heel struts |0811. and |081), above the tie 35Y rod spacing and anchor members H011, and H01),l respectively.

A plurality of longitudinally spaced closed trapezoidal hanger frames |2| are applied about the upper chord members |05 and |05 and the 40 lower tie rods l2 and I2', and the upper chord members and lower tie rod members are preferably secured respectively as by welding at the apexes of the trapezoidal hanger frames |2|.

The preferably refractory tile or blocks T--2 45 are similar in form to the tile T-|, and include spaced end supporting portions |3| formed by providing notched or rabbeted seats lindicated at |34 in each lower end corner of each tile.

In erecting the floor F-Z the spanning joist 50 members J-2 are placed in position so that their end supports l10n. and |161) rest on spaced bearing beams, not shown, and the joists J--2 are laterally spaced from each other in a manner similar to that described for the joists J-I of 55v the floor F-|. l

The tile T-2 are then laid in a manner similar to that described for the positioning of the blocks T-l, the principal dilference between the floor F--Z and the floor F-l arising from the use of 60 the upper laterally spaced chord members 5 and 5 and the arch struts therefor, whereby in the floor F-2 the concrete material C may be poured downwardly between the upper chord bars |05 and |05 of the joists, and also the ends of the 65 tile J-2 may preferably abut directly against the sides of the adjacent arch struts for effecting an interlocking structural coaction between the joists J-2 and the tile T-2.

The third embodiment of the improved floor` structure is indicated generally at F-3 in Fig. 11, and is generally similar to the floor F-2. The floor F-S includes laterally spaced longitudinally extending spanning joists J-3 and a plurality of tile or blocks T-3 extending between and 75 Vthe ends of end adjacent tiles T--5.

bearing on adjacent spanning members J-3, and forming a flat upper oor surface S-S-f and a flat lower ceiling surface S-S-c, the surfaces S-S-f and S--c being transversely spaced from each other and extending respectively above and below the spanning joist members J3.

The joist members J-S are identical in manner of use with the joist members J-Z,v but are made as illustrated by the use of truss construction rather than arch construction.

One of the joists J-3 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 5 and 6.

A fourth embodiment of the improved oor structure is indicated generally at F-4 in Fig. 12, and is generally similar to the floor structure F-I, but includes the use of trussed joists J- 4, one of which is illustrated in detail in Figs. 7 and 8.

The fifth embodiment of the improved iioor structure indicated generally at F-5 in Fig. 13, includes arch joists J5 which are structurally similar to the arch joists J-Z, and tile or blocks T-li, each end of each of which is formed as illustrated for bearing on one of the joists J-5 and for extending above and below the joists J-5 thereby totally enclosing the joists between The tiles T-5 preferably abut each other sidewise as Well as endwise, and the floor F-5 is erected as indicated in Fig. 13 by laterally sliding each joist J-5 into the alined formed ends of a temporarily supported row of the tile T-5.

The sixth embodiment of the improved floor structure indicated generally by F-S in Fig. 14, is generally similar to the floor F-5, with the exception that the joists J-S of the floor F-S are connected with each other laterally as by laterally extending rods 5B each end of which is connected with one of the laterally spaced arch struts of one of the joists J-5, which are structurally similar to the ioists J--2. Y

The tile T-' of the floor F- are each so formed that each end extends below its supporting joist J-S forming a shelf upon which the concrete C may be poured.

It will be observed that in each of the improved tile T-l to 'IL-6, inclusive, the transverse depth of the notches is less than ,1/2 the total transverse depth of the tile, whereby the end portions of the tile web walls may be used for supporting purposes, with a relatively high shearing strength and at the same time reproofing of the supporting joists is attainable.

I claim:-`

1. An elongated hollow block having a rectangular transverse cross section and including normally outer rectangular walls, rectangular side walls extending between the longitudinal side edges of the normally outer rectangular walls, the distance between the outer surfaces of the outer Walls constituting the depth of the block, the distance between the outer surfaces of the side walls constituting the breadth of the block, and the distance between the end edges of one of the outer walls constituting the length of the block, the length of the block being greater than its breadth and greater than its depth, and the side walls and one of the outer walls including opposite end portions extending longitudinally beyond other portions of the side walls and the 4other outer wall, the side wall end portions serving as opposite end supports for the block and the depth of the side wall end portions being substantially greater than one-half the total depth of the side Walls.

block, the length of the block being greater than 1n' its breadth and its depth, and the web wall and one of the outer walls including opposite endportions extending longitudinally beyond other portions of the web wall and the other outer wall,

the web wall end portions serving as opposite 15j end supports for the block and the depth of the web wall end portions being substantially greater than one-half the total depth of the web wall.

3. An elongated hollow block including normally outer rectangular walls, web walls extending between the normally outer rectangular walls, the distance between the outer surfaces of the outer walls constituting the depth of the block, the distance between the longitudinal side edges of the outer walls constituting the breadthof the block, and the distance between the end edges of one of the outer walls constituting the length of the block, the length of the block being greater than its breadth and its depth, and the web walls and one of the outer walls including opposite end portions extending longitudinally beyond other portions of the web walls and the other outer Wall, the web wall end portions serving as opposite end supports for the block and the depth of the web wall end portions being substantially greater than one-half the total depth of the web walls.

4. An elongated refractory hollow tile block having a rectangular transverse cross section and including normally outer rectangular walls, rectangular side walls extending between the longitudinal side edges of the normally outer rectangular walls, the distance between the outer surfaces of the outer walls constituting the depth of the block, the distance between the outer surfaces of the side walls constituting the breadth of the block, and the distance between the end edges of one of the outer walls constituting the length of the block, the length of the Vblock being greater than its breadth and greater than its depth, and the side walls and one of the outer walls including opposite end portions extending longitudinally beyond other portions of the side walls and the other outer wall, the side wall end portions serving as opposite end supports for the block and the depth of the side wall end portions being substantially greater than one-half the total depth of the side walls.

5. An elongated refractory hollow tile block including normally outer rectangular walls, a web wall extending between the normally outer rectangular walls, the distance between the outer surfaces of the outer walls constituting the depth of the block, the distance between the longitudinal side edges of the outer walls constituting the breadth of the block, and the distance between the end edges of one of the outer walls constituting the length of the block, the length of the block being greater than its breadth and its depth, and the web wall and one of the outer walls 70 including opposite end portions extending longitudinally beyond other portions of the web wall and the other outer wall, the web wall end portions serving as opposite end supports for the block and the depth of the web wall end portions beng substantially greater than one-half the total depth of the web Wall.

6. An elongated refractory hollow tile block including normally outer rectangular walls, web walls extending between the normally outer rectangular walls, the distance between the outer surfaces of the outer walls constituting the depth of the block, the distance between the longitudinal side edges of the outer walls constituting the breadth of the block, and the distance between the end edges of one of the outer walls constituting the length of the block, the length of the block being greater than its breadth and its depth, and the web walls and one of the outer walls including opposite end portions extending longitudinally beyond other portions of the web Walls and the other outer wall, the web wall end portions serving as opposite end supports for the block and the depth of the web wall end portions being substantially greater than one-half the total depth of the web walls.

HURXTHAL F. FREASE. 

